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I am not fron the United Kingdom, although, I had a great three weeks there this summer

I can't rememberwhere I read this, but I thought I heard something about the government creating some type of central hub that all ISPs will have to connect through. The purpose, I guess, is for big brother to keep an eye on you. Is this true?

Well, there has been some talk of some system which will allow the police to check e-mails of criminals (it is the major method of communication between football hooligans, a fairly real problem in this country). They say that it will only be used in extreme circumstances, but I don't know... I've read 1984 ;-). Apparently the onus will be on the ISPs to help provide the service, and it will cost them, not the police.

the goverment will be able to monitor all electronic communication. the RIP bill must be fought. it will hold back the development of the internet in the UK for years if it is passed. i plan to contact as many MPs as possible to tell them what is wrong with the bill.

Wayne hit the nail on the head, it's the little black box for ISPs. Apparently the government is going to foot some of the bill for the black boxes.

It is pretty pointless though because if people don't want the goverment to read their email they will just use PGP with 1024+ bit keys - But then again when has the government done anything useful that makes sense?

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Karl AustinKDA Web Services
"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."

I believe if we don't hand over our keys we are liable for 2 years in prison. Of course, anyone involved in serious crime is going to take those possible two years over a worse conviction for murder, smuggling or whatever. At least I didn't vote for the idiots.

I think the RIP bill was changed so that they couldn't force you to hand over your encryption key because it infringes on the European Human rights bill which states that you can't be forced to incriminate yourself.

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Karl AustinKDA Web Services
"Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film."